Electron-discharge device



l. HULSIZER ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE `May 17,1927.

Filed May 28 1921 ilu Patented May 17, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT I. HULSIZER, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN'ELEC- TRIO COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

ELECTRON-DISCHARGE DEVICE.

Application led May 28,

This invention relates to vacuum tubes and more especially to electron discharge devices of the audion type. It is the object of this invent-ion to improve the structural arrangement and support of the electrodes. This invention provides electrodes of spherical or semi-spherical configuration which are supported substantially concentrically from a plate by means of widely separated wires carried by the plate. This arrangement avoids the mounting of the electrodes on a slender' press and arranges the center of mass thereof at a relatively short dista-nce from the points of support. The structural arrangement is thus very compact and sturdy.

This invention will be better understood by having reference to the' following specification and accompanying drawing wherein ,F ig. 1 discloses one embodiment of the in- 'vention and Fig. 2 discloses a second embodiment.

In Fig. 1 the tube 1 is substantiall bellshaped and is closed by a plate 2 pre erably of the same material as the tube. On the plate 2 is mounted a hemispherical plate or anode 3. This anode is supported by means of ywires 4 welded thereto at points sub- `stantially on a great circle thereof which wires are sealed in the glass plate, one of said wires being adapted to act as a. lead wire. An aperture 5 is preferably provided fin the upper portion of the anode through which the other electrodes may be observed. Arranged concentric with the anode 3 is a semi-spherical wire mesh grid electrode G which is supported concentric with the anode 3 from the pla-te 2 by means of the wires 7 attached thereto at points substantially on the great circle thereof, one of which Wires acts as the lead Wire therefor. The cathode 8 comprises a Wire wound in such form as to have a configuration conforming in curvature to that of the grid and anode and is arranged within the grid. The ends of the cathodes are sealed into the glass plate 2 to provide the supporting means for the cathode and act as lead Wires therefor.

In the modification disclosed in Fig. 2 an apertured disc 11 of insulating material,y preferably lavite or the like, having a plurality of sockets in its periphery is supported in the tube by projections 12 extending from the inner wall of the tube into said sockets. Arranged in the aperture in the disc 11 is provides a compact sturdy structure.

1921. Serial N0. 473,441.

the cathode 13 which comprises a Wire so i wound as to have a substantially spherical outline. The ends of this wire are supported 1n the inner Wall of the aperture. The grid electrode 14 comprises two substantially semi-spherical elements formed of wire mesh, which elements are supported substantially concentric with the cathode on either side of the disc by means of the Wires 16 carried by the disc. Two substantially hemispherical plates 17 supported approximately concentric with the` cathode on opposite sides of the disc by means of the wires 19 compose the anode. Lead Wires 20, 21 and 22 sealed 1n the base of the'tube are provided for the cathode, control electrode and anode arrangement of the electrodes and the discmay be supported in several different ways. For example, it may be supported b means of wires sealed in thel vertical wal 4of the tube, said wires also serving as the leads for the electrodes; or, the disc may be supported by a frame arranged Within the tube, in which case the disc ma be` of the proper diameter to contact wit 1 the inner wall of the tube to lprevent vibration thereof. Furthermore, in Fig. 2, the lower Wall of the tube may be convex to make the tube symmetrical.

What is claimed is:

1. An electron discharge device comprising an enclosing vessel, an apertured plate supported in said vessel, a ilamntary cath- Qde Wound to present a substantially spherical surface supported by said plate within the aperture,-and a pair of substantially semi-spherical electrodes supported from said plate at opposite sides thereof substantially concentricf with said cathode.

2. An electron discharge device comprising an evacuated vessel, an apertured disc therein, a, substantially spherical cathode supported from said disc Within said aperture, a pair of substantially semi-spherical grid electrode elements supported from said disc on opposite sides thereof, and a pair of substantially semi-spherical anode elements supported from said disc on op ositesides thereof, said electrode elements eing substantially concentric with said cathode.

' 3. An electron discharge device comprising an enclosing vessel containing an insulating member7 a plurality of metallic 1nemy ROBERT I. HULSIZER. 

